Buffon to play last game for Juve on Saturday

"Andrea [Agnelli] and I will continue to have dialogue and I will rely on his support and suggestions".

"Until a few days ago it was certain that I would stop playing".

"I would say the next week, after some reflections, I will make the ultimate decision". "I don't want to end up playing in lower leagues". Two weeks ago, I had accepted that I was an ex-footballer, so whatever I do decide to do, I will be serene about it. I'm proud to say it's not like that.

"For Italy, we can't even talk about it", he said.

"It gives me great pleasure that so many people have come out to see me". It's something that I'd need to think long and hard about. "It would be extremely hard to digest and something I want to distance myself from". However, since then, some proposals and exciting challenges have arrived, from off the pitch as well. I felt this love and fought to deserve it, and tried to do my best. I was always be grateful to all of you forever.

Buffon will make his 177th and final Italy appearance in a friendly against the Netherlands on June 4 and will bow out as retire as the country's most-capped player of all time.

That was his 176th cap for Italy - a national record - since his debut against Russian Federation in October 1997. He had the desire to go to the World Cup in his mind but instead there was the Italy-Sweden playoff game, which Italy lost.

The 2003 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year ends his career as the current Best FIFA Goalkeeper. "But he won the Italian Cup and the seventh Scudetto in a row".

The Champions League eluded him, though, even though he appeared in three finals, most recently losing out to Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017.

The Italian is still facing the prospect of a European ban over comments he made on the performance of English referee, Michael Oliver. I always had a sporting and correct conduct with everybody.

Martina said Buffon is unique and his career will never be repeated. "Until the end, despite being 40, I performed above my standards".